No-Sew Scalloped Shorts DIY

Happy Black Friday! This is the perfect DIY to inexpensively satisfy your personal shopping urges if you’ve been spending your cash on Christmas gifts for others. I found a wooly pair of tweed shorts for $3 at the thrift store and was inspired to turn them into a funky-fall/winter look.

Here’s what you need for the project:

Long high-waisted shorts (easily thrifted!)

Fabric scissors

Fabric pen (or Sharpie, as I used)

Tape measure

Fray Check

Step One:

Trim the length of the shorts. I did this a couple of times, trying them on after each time to see how the length felt on me. Be sure to save some room for the scallops- they will shorten the length a bit.

Step Two:

Measure the width of the leg. I wanted 3 1/2 scallops across the leg, so I divided this length by 3.5 and found a circular object around the house that matched this diameter. It just so happened that a candle lid worked perfectly! You can always fudge the diameter a little, but if you are going to do this, I suggest using a washable fabric marker rather than a Sharpie for the next step.

Step Three:

Trace the circular object across the width of the fronts and backs of each leg. A fabric pen would probably be better for this step, but I had confidence, and more importantly, I did not have a fabric pen. :)

Step Four:

Use super sharp fabric scissors to carefully cut on the inside of where you drew the semi-circles. I definitely suggest cutting the fronts and the backs separately to avoid any tragic mistakes.

Step Five:

Add a light coat of fray check to the edge of the shorts. When it dries, trim any slightly uneven spots or frays that are hanging out.

That’s it! Super easy, right? The great thing about this project is that it utilizes old shorts that you can easily find for about 2-4 dollars at the thrift store. So if you mess up, you’re not out a significant amount of money. Paired with tights, this particular pair of wool shorts is perfect for the colder months, but I think I’ll try larger scallops on some lightweight shorts next summer.

Hi, I’m also here from A Beautiful Mess blog and I LOVE this project…so cute! Before I read your instructions, I was thinking “How did she get the scallops so perfect and even?”. Aha…trace a circular object! Brilliant! Will definitely be trying this over the holidays!

I’ve also seen this on Elsie’s blog; what a cool idea! I don’t know how to sew so this is an original way to pimp a pair of pants for such a non-skillful person like me. Thanks for sharing! :) Cool blog, too!
Miki.